Printer mechanism for sorting machines



June' 12, 1934.

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June 12, 1934. E. A. FORD ,9

PRINTER MECHANISM FOR SORTING MACHINES Original Filed Feb. 15, 1929 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 luxzzj'roR- BYW ATTORNEY- June 12, 1934. FQRD 1,962,735

PRINTER MECHANISM FOR SORTING MACHINES Original Filed Feb. 15, 1929 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 g INVE fizz-4f BY 2 A'IATORNEY- E. A. FORD 1,962,735

PRINTER MECHANISM FOR SOR'IING MACHINES 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 o m-N OWN June 12, 1934.

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PRINTER MECHANISM FOR SORTING MACHINES Original Filed FeB. 15, 1929 12 Sheets-Sheet e Ai-roRNEY- June 12, 1934. FORD 1,962,735

PRINTER MECHANISM FOR SORTING MACHINES dri inal Filed Feb. 15, 1929 12 Sheets-Sheet 'r FIGJO.

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June 12, 1934.

PRINTER MECHANISM FOR SORTING'MACHINES l2 Sheets-Sheet 8 Original Filed Feb. 15, 1929 v INVENTOR- ATTORNEY- Jim 12, 1934. w E A FORD 1,962,735

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ATTORNEY- June 12, 1934. 'E. A. FORD I 1,962,735

PRINTER MECHANISM FOR SORTING MACHINES Original Filed Feb. 15, 1929 12 Sheets-Sheet 1O AITORNEY- E. A. FORD PRINTER MECHANISM FOR SORTING MACHINES fine 12, 1934. 1,962,735

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H in REJECT' ATTORNEY- Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES PA'rEuu ion-10s I 1,962,735 PRINTER MECHANISM FOR SORTING MACHIN Eugene A. Ford, Scarsdale, N. Y., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York 15 Claims.

This case relates to mechanical accounting systems wherein record cards bearing index point designations are adapted to control accounting machines, and is a division of application Serial N0. 340,191, filed February 15, 1929.

pockets of a card sorter.

Further, the object of the invention is to provide such means for printing a record of counters or sorted cards as will automatically feed a sheet of paper into position to receivethe impression from the printing means.

Still further, the object is to provide in the machine means for manually feeding a sheet to the printing means independently of the automatic feed.

Another object is to automatically feed the inking ribbon of the printer unit eachtime a record is made.

Another object of the invention, also, is to provide aprinting frame for taking a record from printing wheels and automatically moving a recrd sheet variable adjustable. distances to receive the impression from the printing wheels.

Further and other objects and advantages will be hereinafter set forth in the accompanying specification and claims, and shown in the drawings, whichi' by way of illustration show what is now considered to be the preferredembodiment .of'theinvention."

win the drawings: lsis a plan view of the counter unit with parts sectioned to show the interior structure;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the printing counter unit;

Fig. 3 is a detail of the means for adjustably mounting the analyzing brush of the sorter unit; Fig. 4 is a section through the paper carrier of the printing unit.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on lines 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig.- 5 with the printing frame in a different position;

Fig. 7 is a detail section through the grand total counter bank;

Fig. 8 is a view of the right side of the printer unit Fig. 9 is a section on broken line 9-9 of Fig. 8; Figs. 10 and 11 are sections respectively on lines 1010 andll-ll of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a detail of Fig. 9; I

Fig. '13 is a section on line 13-13 of Fig. 21;

Fig. 14 is a detail of the unit wheel of a counter bank. .60

Fig. 15 is a detail of the highest order wheel of a printing counter bank;

Fig. 16 is a section on line 1616 of Fig. 21;

Fig. 17 is a detail of the counter card lever contact making device; v 65 Fig-18 is a detail of the ribbon mechanism at the left side of the counter unit;

Fig. 19 is a detail taken at right angles to Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sorter; v

Fig. 21 is a section through the rear of the sorter; M

Fig. 22 is the circuit diagram.

Thev sorting machine with which the printer counter cooperates is provided with a magazine 10 (see Figs. 20 and 21) for holding a stack of cards 11, the bottom one of which is engageable at the rear by picker blades 12 which feed it from the magazine through the card throat 13 into the grip of feed rolls 14. Each picker blade is mounted at the rear of a slidable arm 15 reciprocated by an oscillating arm 16 pinned to a shaft 17. One of the arms 16 is pivotally connected to a link 18 which is journalled on a stud 19 fixed to a crank arm 20 on a shaft 21. The right hand end of the shaft 21 has fixed to it a gear 22 which is'rotated by a worm gear 23 fast to a shaft 24 which is driven by the shaft on thesorter motor M (Fig. 22) in any suitable 9 manner.

The pickers 12 feed a card each cycle to the feed roll 14 which advance the card over the analyzing contact roll 25 and under the analyzing brush 26. The roll 27 continues to feed the 95 card to the pockets, one edgeof one pocket being indicated at 28 (Fig. 20) in accordance with the analysis by the brush 26 of the index point of a selected column of the card. The brush may be adjusted to read any desired column on the card. It is fixed in a holder 30 (see Figs. 3 and 20) which has narrowed ends 31 fitting in notches 32 of a pair'of opposing frame members 33. The notches are numbered in alignment with the columns of a card as they pass under the holder. To keep the holder from. moving upwardly in the notches, a shaft 34 (Fig. 20) is rotatably mounted in slidable blocks 35 which are pressed downwardly by a spring-pressed pin 36.

The intermediate portion of the shaft 34 is flattened and as shown in Fig. 20'bears on the ture 43 isalso attached to the rod and upon top of the holder 30 to keep it in place. When the holder is to be moved to another pair of .have six wheels. A friction disk,60 is located opposing slots 32 to sense a different card column, the shaft 34 is rotated clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 20, as a result of which the intermediate portion of the shaft moves off the.top of the holder, releasing it and permitting the operator to'lift it by the hole 37 completely out of the notches it is occupying, and replace it in the desired set of notches. The shaft is then rotated counterclockwise to again position it over the holder to keep the latter in place. I

The action of the sorter inselecting the pocket for a card may be briefly outlined. As already stated, a card is fed' each cycle between the analyzing contact roll and brush by the feed rolls 14. As the card moves between the analyzing contacts, the brush successively senses the index point positions of the selected card column. In correspondence with the'sensing of the index point positions of the card, the forward edge of the card movesover the table 40 (Fig. 20) to positions in front of the successive guide blades 41. If a perforation occurs, for example, in the fourth position of the card from its leading edge, the latter will be in front of the fourth guide blade from the right. When the analyzing brush'makes contact with the roll 25 through the perforation, a circuit is completed through sorting magnets 42, in a manner to be further explained in connection with the circuit diagram (Fig. 22). The magnets thereupon attract an armature 43 rocking it counterclockwise on its pivot 44 as viewed in Fig. 20 and thereby unlatching the upper end of the armature from a ledge 45 on a member pivotedat 46. When the ledge is released, the member 50 rocks clockwise on its pivot.

The table 40 which rests on ledge 45 follows the movement of the ledge and accordingly drops to a lower position. The blades 41 resting on table 40 tend to follow the table but the first three guide blades from the right in the example taken, are now on top of the card which restrains them from following the movement of the table. The fourth guide blade not being restrained from following the table is lowered and as the card advances, it moves over the fourth blade 45 upwardly. The cams then engage a lever 51 to rock its lower end fixed to a slidable adjust-- able rod 52 to the left. The lower end of armamovement of the member 52 to the left rocks clockwise positioning its upper end beneath the 'printed record of the cards sorted into each pocket, the total number of cards sorted in one sorting runof the machine and the total of cards sorted in several sorting runs.

The counting machine is providedwith a separatemotor 55 (Fig.1) which rotates the counter shaft 56 through suitable gearing. The shaft has a key-way 58 in which are seated keys 59 (Fig. 6) integral with friction disks 60. Each designation counter bank 61 has a set of five wheels 62 while the total counter bank, 63 and the grand total counter bank 64 (Figs. land 9) on each side of a counter wheel.

Between adjacentbanks of counters, compression springs 65 attached to the outer friction disks of the banks urge the counter wheels and the disks into close frictional contact. As the friction disks keyed to shaft 56 rotate, they tend to rotate the wheels. The latter are prevented from following the'disks by pawls 66, the nose 67 of the pawl engaging the longer side 68 of the notches 69 in the escapement wheel plate '70 to prevent the latter moving clockwise as viewed in Fig. 14. The plate 70 is rigidly attached to the counter wheel which has ten type lugs 0 to 9 disposed around its periphery. The escapement plate is within a recess formed by the periphery of the printing wheelwhich extends as an annular flange 71 from the side ofthe wheel. On the inside of the flange of each unit wheel of a bank (see Fig. 14) are equally, spaced lugs 72 each adjacent a corresponding type lug and escapement notch. The pawl nose 6'7 is sufficiently narrow where it protrudes into the recess of the wheel to pass with clearance between the top of lug 72 and the periphery of plate '70, and when engaging the notch side 68 is a slight distance above the top of the adjacent lug 72. The pawls 66 are pivoted on a rod 75. Each unit pawl has a lateral extension 76 comprising the armature of an actuating magnet 77 (Fig. 5) which is provided for each designation counter bank andsimilarly an extension 76 comprises the armature of an actuating magnet '77 (Fig. 9) provided for each of counter banks 63 and 64.

When the magnet of a bank is energized, as.

thus moves off the notch side 68 permitting the unit counter wheel to rotate with the friction disks clockwise as viewed in Fig. l4. The magnet 77 is energized-only momentarily and spring 78 is intended to immediately rock the pawl nose upwardly to engage the next notch 68 and stop I the wheel. Suppose, however, that the deenergization of the magnet and the action of the spring 78 lag to the extent that, unless means were provided to prevent it, the wheel would move more than one step after its release by the pawl therevby adding more than one to the wheel reading.

The means for preventing this occurrence com- 1 prise the pawl nose itself and lugs 72. Thus when the pawl nose'is released from one notch 68 it drops and as the wheel rotates, the lug 72 adjacent the next notch 68 contacts with the right side of the pawl nose thereby preventing further movement of the wheel. The latter has thus far moved slightly less than the distance between adjacent notches. When the spring '78 succeeds in moving the pawl upwardly the pawl nose releases the lug 72 which it is engaging and the wheel advances until'thepawl nose engages the notch adjacent said lug. In this manner the unit wheel can move only one step each time it is released by the pawl.

Each counter wheel except the highest order wheels has fixed to its left hand side (as viewed in Fig. 14) a transfer lug 80. The lug of a wheel moves in a path into which the pawl 66 of the next higher order wheel projects. order wheel moves from 9 to 0 relative to index When a lower posit ion R (Fig. 14 its lug engages a projection 81 on the pawl 66 of the adjacent higher order wheel.

The lug cams said pawl out of engagement with its coacting and higher order wheel which moves one step before the pawl under action of its spring 78 moves back into wheel holding position. In this manner a lower order wheel in going from 9 to 0 effects a transfer to the next higher order wheel.

Fixed to the highest order printing wheel 62' of each bank shown in Fig. 15 is a lug 85 which is adapted to engage the right side of the nose 67 of its restraining pawl to prevent said wheel from moving all the way from 9 to 0 position which latter position would give an incorrect reading. The lug 85 stops the wheel 62' after the wheel has moved relative to the index line R about mid-way between the 9 and'0 positions. Therefore, the wheel will not present any type lug at the index or printing position R. When a record is printed on a sheet from the wheels, as will be explained in detail hereinafter, the wheel 62 which is mid-way between the 9 and 0 positions at the index line R will not print on the sheet. Thisindicates that the counter bank containing this wheel 62' has exceeded its counting capacity and therefore that the count of this'bank is in error.

To zeroize the counter wheels the rotation of shaft 56 is reversed by means hereinafter explained. The movement of a wheel with the shaft in reverse rotation is not prevented by its restraining pawl nose 67 but during such movement a straight surface 86 of the transfer cam lug of a particular lower order wheel engages the left side of the nose 67 of the pawl of the adjacent higher order wheel. This engagement tends to move the engaged pawl 66 clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 14). Since thiscannot be done, the pawl nose 67 being in contact with the peripheryof escapement wheel 70, the lug 80 and consequently the wheel carrying it are stopped from further movement in a reverse direction (counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 14). The position of the pawl nose 67 of a wheel is such that it stops the adjacent lower order wheel in its 0 position relative to the index line R.

The highest order wheels 62' are stopped with their 0 type in index position R during the reverse movement of the shaft (which is counterclockwise in Fig 15) by contact of the right side of lug as viewed in Fig 15 with the right side of the nose of its own restraining pawl.

Means are provided to selectively permit or prevent at will the zeroizing of the grand total counter bank 64 when the other banks are zeroized. Referring to Figs. '7 and 8 shaft 56 is seen to extend past total counter bank and terminate in a reduced circular bearing end seated in a corresponding hole of shaft 56' of the grand total counter bank. Shaft 56 releasably drives shaft 56' by the following means. Shaft 56 has a sleeve 91 fixed thereto encircling the reduced end rod 90. The periphery of the sleeve 91 has a notch 92 therein into which a ball 93 is yieldably urged by a spring 94 adjustably held in a collar 95 surrounding the shaft 56'. The collar 95 has a portion entering the key slot 59' of the shaft thus forcing the shaft to rotate with it. Normally the rotation of shaft 56 in any direction will rotate shaft 56' through the sleeve 91 the notch 92 therein, the ball clutch 93 and the collar 95.

However, during the reverse or zeroizing movement of the'shaft 56-, shaft 56' may be prevented from moving. The outer end of'shaft 56' has pinned to it a notched wheel 96. The nose of a pawl 97 pivoted to the side of the counter housing is adapted to engage with the notches of wheel 96 and stop movement of the/wheel andthe shaft 56' rigid therewith. The pawl 97 has a pin 99 seated in a notch 100 in the lower end of a lever 101 the hub of which is freely rotatably mounted on the terminal-portion of shaft 56;

vA coil spring 102'having one end fixed to the terminal portion of shaft56 and tightly encircling the hub of the lever 101 tends to rotate said lever with said shaft. During the forward motion of the shaft the lever 101 tends to rotate clockwise with the spring 102 but as seen in Fig.

8 this action is prevented by the lever forcing the side of pawl 97 against an adjustable stop screw 103. During the reverse movement of shaft 56' the spring 102 tends to rotate the lever counterclockwise swinging the pawl 97 clockwise and forcing its nose into engagement with the notched periphery of wheel 96 thereby preventing the wheel and shaft 56-from rotating in a reverse or zeroizing direction.

movement between shafts 56 and 56 will be per- The relative mitted by: the ball clutch 93 yielding and slipiping out of the notch 92 of sleeve 91. The counter bank 64 driven by shaft 56is thus normally not zeroized together with the other counter banks. However, if desired, the counter bank may be zeroized together with the other counter banks during reverse motion of shaft 56 by the operator grasping the handle of lever 101 and pressing the lever in'a clockwise direction to force it to remain in the position shown in Fig.-

8 thus keeping the nose of pawl 97 out of con-- The latter not being -re-j tact withwheel 96. strained will not restrain shaft 56'. The ball clutch driving connection between shafts 56 and- 56' will then drive shaft 56' ii-ra reverse direction so that counter bank 64 actuated thereby will be zeroized in the same manner as the other counter banks.

Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6', 8, and 9i1lustrate the means for taking a printed reading from the type lugs of the counters at the index line R (see Figs. 8, 14,

15, 18) Rising from the base of the counter frame at each side thereof are standards 121 which carry stub shafts 123 on which the side plates 122 of the movable printing frame are journalled.

The plates 122 support between them a hollow substantially cylindrical paper roll holder comprising a lower half 125 rigid with plates 122 and an upper half 126 hinged to the lower half. A pair of arcuate strips12'7 are provided having a broad portion 127' which when moved to embrace the lower half of the holder does not interfere with movement of the upper half of the holder on the hinge to open position shown in Fig. 4. When the strips are moved by handles 128 thereon so that the broad portion 127'- moves over the upper half of the holder it will prevent the upper half from moving and keep the holder closed.

In front of the paper holder the side plates 122 fixedly carry a table 130 (Figs. 1, 5, and 6) having an intermediate elongated slot 131 through which projects an elastic strip 132 preferably in the nature of a rubber band the ends of which are held between clamp plates 133 rigidwith a plate 134 fixed to the side plates (see Fig. 9). The strip 132 extends across the front of all the counters and serves as a platen which is yieldingly pressed toward the counter type lugs at index position by a roller 135 when the latter is moved along the back of the strip. The roller is rotatably mounted between the top and bottom plates of a frame 137 to the rear of which the handle 136 is fixed. The frame is slidably mounted on a rail 138 fixed to the side plates 122. Rollers 139 journalled between the top and bottom plates of frame 137 serve to reduce .the friction between the rail and the frame. .Near, each end of the rail a notch 140 is provided with which a spring-pressed ball 141 (Fig. 6) carried in the handle 136 cooperates to yieldingly hold the frame 137 at each end of its movement.

The paper sheet 124 from the roll of paper in the holder 125-126 is brought through the front thereof over the table 130 past the platen strip 132 and between a plurality of rubber or felt covered feed rolls 145 and cooperating rolls 146. After passing between these rolls the paper is led between guide plates 147 and 148 rigidly carried between the side plates 122 on bars 149 and 150 respectively. The edge 151 (Fig. 5) of the plate 147 serves as a cutting and straight edge along which the sheet of paper may be out off.

To permit the paper edge to be inserted initially between the rolls 145 and 146 the latter are rotatably mounted between theupper ends of plates 152 which are freely journalled at the lower ends upon a common shaft 153 (see Fig. 1) carried by the side plates 122. Adjacent shaft 153 is a second shaft 154 rotatably journalled between the side plates-and having fixed thereto outside the left hand plate as viewedin Fig. 1 a handle 155. The-portion of. the shaft 154 between the side plates is formedwith a fiat side engaging straight edges 156 on the plates 152 (see Figs. 5 and 6). Springs 157 wound around shaft 153 have one end fixed to the plates 152 and the other end bearing on shaft 154. The effect of the springs is to yieldingly hold the fiat side of shaft 154 in contact with the straight edges 156 of the plates 152 in which position the rolls 145 and printing operations. The printing frame including the side plates 122 and the entire mechanism carried thereby is adjustable to three (different positions about its .Fig. 5 shows the flower position which it occupies Wlhen'the sorting op- 'eration and the counting operation taking place. In this position, there is no possibility of accidental interference with the motion of the counter wheels. "The weight of the printing frame holds it in the lower position which is fixed by contact of studs 1"60=:can"ied;by :each plate 122 with the top of projections 161 of concavely curved bars 162 .fixed to the hase adjacent each plate 122. v I

The second position of the printing frame shown by idotteii lines in Fig. 8 and indicated by the reference-character S is designed to place the table in a convenient position for the operator towrite =upon the'paper resting on the table. In order to releasably hold the printing frame in this position a notch 163 (Figs. 5, 6, and 8) is formed in the top of each bar 162 in which is seated the end of a pin 164 retained'within a cavity in a member 165 attached to each plate 122. The pin is urged outwardly by springs 166 in the plates and upon reaching the-notch 163 during movement of the printing frame will snap into the notch holding the frame releasably in position.

The upper position of the printing frame is shown in full lines in Figs. 6 and 8. In this position pin 164 snaps into another notch 167 in bar 162 to yieldingly hold the frame against movement.

During the movement of the printing frame from the upper tothe lowest position and back again the paper is automatically fed forward a predetermined adjustable distance by means effecting rotation of shaft 170 (Figs. 1, 5, 6 and 9) to which feed rolls 145 are fixed.

An arcuate rack 1'71 (Figs. 8 and 9) has an the right hand standard 121. The rack teeth are on an are formed about shaft 123 as a center.

Shaft' 1'70 has rigidly connected thereto at its right hand side a concentric shaft 1'72 (Fig. 9). Freely encircling the shaft 1'72 is a pinion 173' (Figs. 8, 9 and 10). Rigid with the pinion is a sleeve 1'74 within which is pivoted a pawl 1'75 normally urged clockwise by a spring 176 connected at opposite ends to the pawl and the sleeve. A ratchet wheel 177 located within the sleeve and freely mounted on shaft 1'72 is adapted to cooperate with pawl 175. During the movement of the printing frame which is journalled on shaft 123 from the upper to the lower position the pinion 1'73 rolls on rack 1'71 and rotates counterclockwise on its axis as viewed in'Figs. 8 and 10. The sleeve 1'74 and pawl 1'75 rotate with the pinion and consequently the nose of pawl 1'75 idly rides over the teeth of ratchet wheel 177.

The outer end of pawl protrudes through -jects. As the pawl moves counterclockwise its outer end encounters at point 181 the inner periphery of ring 1'79 which cams the pawl clockwise on its pivot moving the pawl nose out of the locus of the ratchet teeth. The ring 179 is provided with notches 182 and 183 cooperating with a pin 184 on the end of a pawl 185 pivoted to the frame plate 122 and urged towards the ring by a spring 186 (see Fig. .10). l

The ring .179 is freely movabie on sleeve 1'74 but is releasably retained in set position by 00 action of pin 1 84 of pawl 185 with either of notches 11-82 or.183. "Notch 183 is shapedso that pin .184 restrains ring 1'79 from clockwise movemerit beyond the position shown in Fig. 10 but permits counterclockwise movement. Notch 182 shaped :so that when pin 184 is seated therein.

the pin prevents :further counterclockwise movement (Fig. 10) but permits clockwise movement. The ring 179 is accessible to be turned by the operator (see Fig.9) When the ring is moved by the operator counterclockwise so that pin 184 seats in notch 182 the point 181 of the ring encounters pawl 1'75 during. its counterclockwise movement later than when the pin 184 is in notch 183. The pawl 1'75 is therefore permitted to move further than the dotted line position shown in .Fig. 10 by a distance equal to that between notches 182 and 183'.

Fixed to the right of the ratchet wheel 177 is a collar 188 (Figs. 9, 11, and 12) which has seven notches 189 in its periphery corresponding to the seven teeth of ratchet wheel 177. The

notches coact with a pin 190 on the end of apawl 191 pivoted to plate 122 and yieldingly urged towards the collar by a spring 192. The engagement of pawl 191 with the collar 188 serves to hold the ratchet wheel stationary during the movement of the pawl 175 counterclockwise with sleeve 174.

During the movement of the printing frame from the lowest position to the highest or printing position the gear 173 rolls on rack 171 and rotates clockwise. The sleeve 174 and pawl 175 carried by the gear also rotate clockwise. Duringthis movement as soon as the outer end of the pawl is free of the point 181 of ring 179 the pawl nose moves intoengagement' with a tooth on ratchet wheel 177. Continued clockwise movement of the pawl 175 results in actuating the ratchet wheel clockwise.

It is obvious that when pin 184 is in notch 182 the wheel will be moved further during the pawls clockwise movement than when the pin is in notch 183. In the former case, the point 181 is closer to the pawl and as a result the latter will be released sooner to engage tne wheel.

The parts and movements are so proportioned that the pawl 175 will always move the ratchet wheel a distance equal to a multiple of the space between teeth so that when the movement of the wheel is completed the pin 190 will be engaged with a notch 189 in the collar 188 fixed to the wheel. Due to this engagement when the pawl 175 during its next counterclockwise movement rides over wheel 177 it will not frictionally and undesirably move the wheel counterclockwise.

The collar 188 has rigidly fastened thereto a sleeve 200 within which is a coil spring 201 (Figs. 9 and 12) loosely surrounding the shaft 172. A

disk 202 loose on the shaft 172 is urged outwardly by the spring 201 and acts on three equally spaced dogs 203 to keep them in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 12. The outer ends of the dogs when in the dotted line position grip the interior annular surface of the sleeve 200 which thereby forces the dogs 203 to rotate with it. The dogs are pivoted at 204 to a. collar 205 to which a knob 206 is attached by a pin 207 passing through a s ot in shaft 172. Rotation of the dogs with sleeve 200 will through the collar 205 and the latters pin connection to shaft 172 cause the shaft to rotate. Thus rotation of ratchet wheel 177 clockwise by the pawl 175, sleeve 174, and gear 173 will rotate the collar 188 and sleeve 200 rigid with the ratchet wheel and through the dogs 203 engaging sleeve 200 rotate collar 205 and shaft 172. Shaft 172 being rigidly joined to shaft 170 on which are mounted feed rolls 145, the latter will be rotated cockwise to feed the paper forward.

Within the collar 205 a member 208 is slidably mounted on shaft 172 within limits prescribed by contact of the ends of slot 208' in member 208 with pin 207. The knob end 209 of member 208 may be pushed forward to cause the inner end of member 208 to engage the inner ends of dogs 203 and move them against spring 201 to the full line position shown in Fig. 12. In this position, the outer ends of dogs 203 are released from the inner surface of sleeve 200. Thus rotation of sleeve 200 can have no effect on dogs 203 when the member 208 is moved inwardly. The knob 206 may be grasped by the operator's hand with the palm pushing knob 209 inwardly and shaft 172 turned through collar 205 independently of sleeve 200 and the actuating means for the sleeve.

In this manner without-disturbing the relation betweenthe pawl 175 and ratchet wheel 177 and between pin 190 and notches 189 of detent wheel 188 the shaft 172 may be manually rotated to feed the rolls 145 and the paper forward any desired distance. When the paper is again fed automatically the relation between the pawl 175 and wheel 177 not having been disturbed the completion of the automatic feeding movement will find the pin 190 in a notch 189 to lock the ratchet I wheel against accidental reverse rotation. The

obviously the same each downward movement of the printing frame and the same each upward movement of the frame but due to the adjustability of the ring 179 the pawl 175 engages the ratchet wheel 177 during the upward movement of the frame at adjustable times so that the amount of rotation of the wheel 177 is variable and the paper accordingly may be fed forward different amounts. To the left hand end of shaft 170 is pinned a knob'210 by which said shaft and the feed rolls 145 carried thereby may be rotated manually.

' amount of motion of gear 173 and the pawl 175 is During such manual operation the ratchet wheel 177 and collar 188 rotate with the shaft and the operator hearing the click of the pin 190 entering the notches 189 in the collar is enabled to stop the rotation of the shaft when the pin 190 is in one of the notches 189 thereby preserving the correct relation between the ratchet wheel 177 and the pawl 175 for an automatic feeding operation.

Ribbon mechanism is provided to support a ribbon 211 in front of the counter wheels at index position R (Fig. 14). Each time that the printing frame is moved from the upper to the lowest position the ribbon (Figs. 1, 8,- and 9) is wound on the right hand spool 212 and during the reverse movement of the frame the ac-.

219 having its fixed end attached to a stud 220 rigidly fixed in the wall 214. An actuating pawl 221 is pivoted to an arm 222 and urged to engage the ratchet wheel by a spring 223. The upper end of arm 222 freely encircles the hub of the ratchet wheel 216 while its lower end has a slot 250 engaging a pin 249 fixed in the upper end of a link 224 loosely mounted on a pivot pin 225. A lever 226 is also pivoted on pin 225 and the upper arm of the lever is connected to the link 224 by a, spring 227. The lower arm of the lever is pivoted to one end of a link 228 the other end of which is pivotally connected to the right hand plate 122 as shown in Fig. 8.

When the printing 'frame is moved from the full line position shown in Fig. 8 to the lower position the link 228 moves to the right and' rocks lever 226 counterclockwise. The spring 227 causes link 224 to follow the movement of the upper arm of the bail. Through its pin and slot connection with arm 222 link224 thereupon rocks arm 222 clockwise causing pawl 221 to rotate ratchet wheel 216. The ratchet wheel is coupled -to the spool 212 hence rotation of the wheel results in similar rotation of the spool to wind the ribbon thereon. The purpose of the yielding drive provided by spring 227 between link 224 and lever 226 is to permit link 224 to remain stationary when the ribbon, ratchet wheel 216,

' held disengaged from wheel 216 by means of an annular member 230 manipulable by a handle 231 and loosely embracing the hub of ratchet wheel 216 (see Fig. 9). A spring blade clasp 232 by which the handle is clasped in the position shown in Fig. 8 holds the member 230 releasably against movement. This position is main-' tained while the ribbon is being wound on spool 212. .When the spool is fully wound and it is desired to unwind the ribbon therefrom the handle is moved to engage a spring blade latch 233 (Fig. 8). In this position the periphery of member 230 is between the pawls 218 and 221 2 and the ratchet wheel 216, thus preventing coof spool 212. When the ribbonis entirely unwound from spool 236 the aforementioned member 230 is actuated to disengage the pawls 218 and 221 from association with theribbon spool 212 and the spool 236 is rotated by its handle counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 18 to freely unwind the ribbon from spool .212 and rewind it on spool 236. When this operation is completed the member 230 is moved to release the pawls for cooperation with spool 212. The ribbon is led from the. spools over flanged guide rollers 240 (Figs. 1, 18.and 19) at the sides of the housing 215. From the rollers 240 the ribbon passes'over the angular side 241 of a vertical guide member 242. The side 241 turns the ribbon as it comes from roller 240 at right angles so as to dispose it vertically in front of the counter wheels as shown in Fig. 19. The hooked end of a member 245 which is journalled at its other end on stud 22 0 fits over shaft 213 at the outer side of the ribbon spool 212 to hold it releasably on the shaft. By mov--' ing the hook off the shaft the spool may be removed.

During the printing operation when the printing frame is in its upper position it is desirable to positively prevent accidental operation of the 'which blade 246 is longer than blade 24"]. The

blades have coacting contact points 248 which are in the sorting motor circuit as will be further explained in connection with the circuit'diagram (Fig. 22).

As previously explained in describing the ribbon winding mechanism the movement of the frame to its upper position rocks the'arm 224 counterclockwise through its yieldable connection with bail 226- actuated by link 228.. The upper end of arm 224 is provided with the. pin

249 engaging the slot 250 of the pawl-carrying am 222 associated with the ribbon mechanism.

The pin projects through the slot 250 and through a curved elongated opening 251 in the housing side 214 and is connected to a bell lever 252 (Figs.

8 and 9) freely journalled on a bearing member 253 concentric with shaft 213. The bell lever 252 has an insulated projection 254entending perpendicularly therefrom to'beneaththe free end of contact blade 246. When the arm 224 moves clockwise as viewed in .8the pin 249 thereof compels the bell lever 252to rock counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 8. projection '254 moving upwardly and lifting the free end of contact blade 246 as shown in Fig. 8. i The contact points 248 are thus separated and the sorting motor circuit is open thereby preventing operation of the sorter and consequent operation of thecounter while the printing frame-is'in printing operation. When the frame is lowered arm 224 moves the bell lever clockwise and the projection 254 moves downward permitting blade 246 to drop and contact points 248 to engage.

By referring principally to thecircuit diagram I (Fig. 22). the operation of the machine may be.

made clear. After placing a stack of cards to be sorted .and counted in the magazine 10 (Fig.

20) the operator depresses the start key 260. A

circuit is thereupon established from the positive side of the power supply through stop key contacts 261, contact points 248 of the counter, start key contacts 262, magnets 263, 264, and 265, tov

. the negative side of the power supply.

Energization of magnets, 264 and 265 attracts their respective armatures 266 and 267 to estab: lish a circuit directly from the plus line through the contacts 268. sorter motor M. and contacts Motor M is thus set in g eating the pickers 12 to feed a card from the magazine into the bite of feed rollers 14 which advance the card to the analyzing brush 26 (see Fig.

20) Before the card reaches the analyzing brush it engages and depresses the usual card lever contacts 270 of the sorter. p

A circuit is thereby established through the card lever contacts and contacts. 271 previously closed by energization of magnet 263 which shunts the start key contacts 262. The operator may then release the start key without stopping the operation of the sorting motor. As long as cards are fed the contacts 270 will be closed but when the cards are not fed the contacts 270 will open and interrupt the motor circuit. ,To stop the motor at will the operator. depresses stop key 2'12 to open contacts 261.

The motor rotates the usual sorting commutator 273 the contact points 274 of which engage the i'eeler 275 in synchronismv with the successive sensing of the card indexpositions by the analyzing brush 26. Assuming, for example, a perforation in the 5 position of the card the brush 26 will contact roll 25 therethrough simultaneously with contact of brush 275 with the 5 contact point 274 of the sorting commutator. A circuit is thereby completed from the plus line through the anlyzing contacts. lead 276 in cable 277 (see Fig.20),

plug 278, either contact blade 279 or 280 depend- 40 separated by the card thereby avoiding sparking of the analyzing brush.

vIf plug 278 is placed in socket 281 there will be no connection to the counter and the combined sorter and counter will operateonly to sort cards. If the plug is inserted in socket 282, the counter also will be operated and count cards fed to the sorting pockets. A counter commutator (Figs. 13, 21, and 22) is provided the stator 296 of which carries the contact studs 297 arranged circumferentially around the opening 298.

The rotor 299 is operated by the sorter motor M so as to cause the brush 300 carried thereby to engage the contacts 297 synchronously with the feed of the cards. A second brush 301 carried by the rotor engages a common contact ring 302. Thus if a 5 perforation is sensed by the analyzing brush 26 a circuit is completed from the plus side through the analyzing contacts, plug 278, line 303, line 304, resistances 305, counter magnet 77 operating the 5 counter bank the contact stud 297 connected to said magnet by one of the leads 306, the brush 300 then engaging said stud, the brush 301, contact ring 302, lead 307, brush 287, a contact segment 288, brush 290, lead 291, and contacts 292, to the minus side. The counter magnet of the 5 bank being energized, it will attract theassociated armature 76 and therefore the pawl 66 of the unit wheel of said bank will be released from the wheel permitting it to rotate and add one'to the total on the 5 counter bank in the manner previously explained.

Simultaneously with the establishment of a circuit through either of counter magnets 77E to 9, which occurs upon the sensing of perforations E to 9 in the card by the analyzing contacts a circuit is also completed as follows; From the plus side through the analyzing contacts, plug 278, line 303, line 309, magnet 310, brush 311, circuit breaker 312, brush 313, line 314, brush 287, commutator 289. brush 291 and contacts 292 to the minus side.

The energization of magnet 310 attracts its armature 315 to open normally closed contacts 316. The armature is latched in its open position for the remainder of the cycle in a manner well-known in the art. Circuit breaker 312 is timed to prevent closing of a circuit through magnet 310 when the analyzing brush contacts the bare roll after the card leaves the brush 26. The closing of a circuit through magnet 310 at this time would undesirably open contacts 316. Contacts 316 are in a circuit established at the beginning of the cycle before magnet 310 can be energized to open contacts 316. This latter circuit is from the plus side through line 345, brush 346, contact roll 347, brush 348, magnet 349, magnet 317, contacts 316, line 335, and circuit breaker roll 336 to the minus side. Magnet 349 closes armature contacts 350 thereby forming a circuit shunting the roll 347, through lines 345 and 351, contacts 350 and as before.

Magnet 317 when energized by the circuit just described closes armature contacts 318 in series with the reject counter magnet 7'7. Thus, assume that no perforation has been sensed during the cycle and the card consequently is to go to the reject'pocket. Magnet 310 has not been energized and contacts 316 and 318 are closed. As soon as the rear edge of the card-leaves the analyzing brush 26, the latter engages the bare contact roll 25 and a circuit is established through the analyzing contacts the lines 303 and 304 the reject counter magnet 77, contacts 318, the con nected commutator segment 297 now engaged by the brush 300, line 307, brush 287, commutator 2 89, brush 290, and contacts 292 to the minus side. Now assume that a perforation has occurred during the card cycle then contacts 316 in series with magnet 317 in the same circuit are opened by magnet 310 as previously explained. Accordingly magnet 317 is deenergized and contacts 318 are open so that the circuit through reject magnet 77 cannot be made.

The accumulating total and total counter magnets 77 are energized at the beginning of the cycle each time a card is fed. In order to prevent establishment of a circuit through magnets 77' when no card is fed card lever contacts 325 distinct fromthe ordinary sorter card lever contacts 270 are provided. Contacts 325 are closed by the card as it moves towards the analyzing brush, engaging the horizontal arm 326 (see Fig. 17) of a bail and rocking the vertical downwardly extending arm 327 of the bail to the right (as viewed in Fig. 17). The end of arm 327 moves contact blade 328 towards contact blade 329 to close the card lever contacts 325 carried by said blades. As a result at-the beginning of a cycle a circuit is made from the 'plus line through brush 330, the conductive portion of contact roll 332 now engaging brushes 330 and 333, card lever contacts 325, magnet 334, magnet 293, line 335, and circuit breaker 336 to the minus side. Magnet 334 upon energization closes contacts 337 establishing a circuit shunting card lever contacts 325 and roll 332 from the plus line through line 345, contacts 337, magnet 293, and roll 336 to the minus side. The purpose of making this circuit is to maintain contacts 292 operated by magnet 293 closed until broken at the end of the cycle by the circuit breaker roll 336.

Simultaneously with the making of the latter circuit at the beginning of the cycle another circuit is made from the plus line through line 345, line 338, total and accumulating total magnets 77, line 339, contact segment 340 of circuit breaker 341', line 342, line 291 and contacts 292, now closed due to energization of their controlling magnet 393 to theminus side. The total and accumulating total counters are thus operated at the beginning of a cycle each time a card is fed. 4

When it is desired to count from a column without sorting, the plug 278 is inserted in socket 355 which connects the analyzing brush to the counter only. If it is desired to count from one column and sort from another a second brush 26 is provided supported and adjusted'as brush 26. The plug 278 connected to brush 26 is inserted in socket 355 while the plug 278 isinserted in socket 281.

J Referring to the circuit diagram and Figs. 1,

.in Fig. 22) blade 362 will engage lower contact post 365 and blade 366 will engage upper contact post 363. The circuit is now from the pluiside through contacts 360, motor 55, block 361, lade 362, lower post 365, in an upward direction through motor field 364, upper post 363, blade 366, block 367, and contacts 368 to minus side. The direction of current in motor field 364 being reversed the motor 55 will reverse its rotation and the counters will be zeroized in the manner explained before. To move blades 362 and 366 to the right for reversing the motor a manually operable lever 370 pivoted adjacent motor 55 to so that normally the spring will hold the blades in the position shown in Fig. 2 in which position the motor rotates forwardly. When the blades are moved to theleft (as viewed in Fig. 2) the motor is reversed in the manner previously explained.

To prevent operation of the lever 370 for reversing the motor when the printing frame is in printing position a rod 375 (see Figs. ,1, 2, and 5) pivoted to the forward end of lever 370 is guided for movement in a hole at 388 in the left standard 121 (see Fig. 2). When the printing .frame is in upper position as shown in Fig. 2, and lever 3'70 is swung counterclockwise, as .viewed in Fig. 1, rod 375 is moved to the right, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, and the free end of rod 375 abuts the side of the left hand plate 122 and prevents suificient movement of the free end of lever 370 to the right to reverse the motor. When the frame is in the lower position the free end of rod 375 is opposite a hole 376 in the plate 122 (see Fig. 6) and when the lever is moved to the right for a zeroizing operation the rod 3'75 is free to movethrough hole 3'76 anddoes not prevent movement of the lever (see Fig. 5). In the intermediate position the rod 375 is free to move into a hole 3'77 in the plate 122.

' Handles 390 are attached to the side plates 122 to manipulate the printing frame.

Fig. 21 shows the arrangement of the various commutators associated with the counter and the means for driving them.- Gear 23 which actuates the picker feed shaft 21 is in mesh with a gear 380 fixed to a vertical shaft 381. Above the gear 380 shaft 381 carries the rotor 299 of the counter commutator of which segments 297 of stator 296 are successively engaged by brush 300 of the rotor and of which ring 302 of the stator is engaged by brush 301 of the rotor, as previously described hereinabove. Below gear 380 the shaft carries contact rolls 312, 289, 341, 336, 347 and 332. Fig. 16 is a section taken through roll 332 to show the structure thereof. The contact ring 382- is disposed between insulated rings 383 and 384. The brushes 330 and 333 are fixed in individual holders 385 insulated from and carried by the frame 386 carried by the sorter housing, the brush 333 being directly behind brush 330 in Fig. 16 cannot be seen in said figure. I

The operation of the machine, although believed clear from the foregoing description, will now' be briefly summarized:

Assume that it is desired to sort and count in accordance with the perforations in the twelfth column of a stack of cards. The operator places the stack of cards 11 inmagazine 10 and 'adjusts analyzing brush 26 to analyze the twelfth column of the cards. Plug 278 is then plugged into socket 282 and the machine is thus set to sort and count in accordance with the perforations in the twelfth column of the cards. Lever 370 of the counter unit being-set in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to cause rotation of the counter motor 55 in a counting direction, t e operator closes switch contacts 360 and 363 the eby setting motoriifi to continuously rotate the counter shafts 56 and 56' in a forward or counting direction.

The operator now depresses start key 260 of the sorter, causing rotation of sorter'motor M to reciprocate pickers 12 to feed the bottom card of the stack to feed rollers 14 which advance the card to analyzing roll 25 and brush 26. During its movement towards the ana1yzer, the card closes card lever contacts 2'70 to maintain the motor in operation after the operator releases start key 260. The card also simultaneously closes card lever contacts 325 to establish a circuit through the total and sub-total magnets 77' as fully described in connection with the. circuit diagram. The magnets77' being energized attract their armatures 76 to release associated pawls 66 from the unit wheels of counter banks 63 and 64, which rotate to add one to their readings; this taking place at the beginningof a card cycle and independently of whether the card has a perforation in the twelfth column. Assume that there is a perforation in the 8 position of the twelfth card column. The brush 26 will sense this perforation and simultaneously close circuits, fully described in connection with the circuit diagram, through sorter magnets 42, counter magnet 77 of the 8 counter bank, and magnet 310. Sorter magnets 42 will unlatch armature latch 43 from lever 50 thereby causing the card to enter a path between a 'pair of chute blades 41 which leads the card to the 8 pocket 28 of the sorter.

Counter magnet 7'7 of the 8 counter bank 62 having been energized simultaneously with sorter magnets 42, the unit wheel of the 8 bank will be released and will rotate to add one to its reading. L

Magnet 310 having been energized simultaneously with the counter magnet 7'7and the sorter magnets 42, will open contacts 316 thereby preventing operation of the reject counter which would have occurred at the end of the cycle if there had been no perforation in the twelfth column of the card.

After the stack of cards has been sorted and counted in the manner indicated above, the cards grand total counter 64 will register the total number of cards of several stacks fed through the sorter. a

The operator now moves the printing frame to the upper, full line positionshown in Fig. 8. During this movement, the-paper 124 is automatically fed to present a blank strip at the printing position R. By means of handle 136, the operator then slides roller 135 along rail 138 to press platen band This causes the reading of the counter wheels to be printed on the strip of the paper 124 at printing position R. The return of the printing frame to lower position, feeds the ribbon 211 to locate fresh portions thereof in front of the printing wheels.

The printing operation being completed, it is now desired to zeroize the banks 62 and 63. To 2.0-

complish this, the operator moves lever 3'70 of the printer counter unit counterclockwise, as viewed 

